General News

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23587, 14 March 1942, Page 6

General News

The Fishing Rivers According to advice received yesterday by the secretary of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, the condition of the fishing rivers is as follows:—Rakaia, Waimakariri, and Ashley, slightly discoloured. Hurunui, unfishable. Selwyn, fishable. Girls On Farms Two girls of the Coldstream district last season harvested 130 acres of wheat. This was reported at a meeting of the Mid-Canterbury Council of Primary Production. One girl drove the tractor and the other the binder. Quorum Difficulties Difficulty was experienced in obtaining quorums for two annual meetings in Timaru yesterday. The time of the meeting of the Timaru Agricultural and Pastoral Association was retarded for half an hour while telephone calls and personal entreaties were made. Eventually 21 members were induced to attend, the quorum being 20. Even nine members could not be found available for the annual meeting of the South Canterbury Hunt Club, which was therefore postponed for a month. Members attributed the non-attend-ance of members to the effect, of petrol restrictions. Loading of Colliers Interviewed at Westport last night, Mr James Roberts of the Waterfront Control Commission, said that as the result of discussions with interested parties, recommendations would be forwarded to the Government concerning the quicker dispatch of colliers from Westport. Mr Roberts said that if these recommendations were adopted, coal much needed in North Island industries could be dispatched all the quicker. Speedier dispatch would involve a quicker turning-round of the vessels. He expressed pleasure at the co-operation the commission had received from all the parties concerned in discussions. He will leave for Greymouth to-morrow to take part in similar discussions there on Monday.— P.S.S. Asbestos Gloves for E.P.S. Asbestos gloves are being manufactured in Christchurch for E.P.S. fire workers. A chance shipment of asbestos recently reached New Zealand from the United States, and the Christchurch E.P.S. authorities managed to acquire all of it. With the gloves, which reach <to the elbow, it will be possible to pick up glowing incendiary bombs, according to the chairman of the organising executive (Mr W. Machin). Mr Machin said there was asbestos for only a limited number of the gloves, but they were lucky to get as much as they had. Enrolment in Reserve Referring to proclamation made on Wednesday directing the enrolment of additional members of the Ist and 2nd Divisions of the General Reserve, the Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple) said that this was for the purpose of securing the enrolment of all naturalised male British subjects between 18 and 46. “It will be recollected that the Government recently decided that naturalised British subjects should be liable for service with the Armed Forces to the same extent as natural British subjects. In the new classification order issued last week they have now been included in the Ist and 2nd Division of the Genera) Reserve. Men who are naturalised British subjects and who are between the ages stated must now promptly apply to the Director of National Service for enrolment.—P.A. Women Taxi Drivers In an effort to replace drivers who have been called for military service, one taxi firm in the city decided a few days ago to call for applications for women drivers. "And the response has been wonderful: it is quite evident that there are plenty of women in Christchurch who are ready and willing to do something to help the war effort,” a representative of the firm said yesterday. He said that at present clients were being refused taxis at ’all times of the day—not because of the shortage of petrol as was the case some weeks ago, but because there were not enough drivers for the cars. The women chosen would have to obtain licences and attend a police interview, but no difficulty was expected. About 20 women drivers were at present employed in Wellington, and reports showed that they have been most successful, the representative said. It was not intended to put women drivers on night shifts, but it would be possible they would be on duty until after the theatres had finished their evening programmes. Iron For Horse Shoes Indications of a serious shortage of iron and nails for the making of horse shoes, and also a shortage of blacksmiths, have been the subject of correspondence between the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union and the office of the Minister for Supply, the Hon. D. G. Sullivan. The shortage of blacksmiths has also been taken up with the Minister for National Service, the Hon. R. Semple. The office of the Minister for Supply suggested that blacksmiths be advised to place orders with local importing houses sufficient to cover their requirements for some time ahead. If details of the orders were then brought before the Minister's notice, every effort would be made to have the materials released immediately from Australia. Freemasons’ Dress The time-honoured custom of Freemasonry, under which members of lodges attended their meetings in the conventional evening dress, has been suspended throughout the Dominion for the duration of the war. The reason for the change is that members are liable to be called away at any hour of the evening for E.P.S. duties. The same change was made by the lodges in Britain some time ago. Late Appeals Against Service The Manpower Committee will not be so lenient in the future as in the past towards appeals which are sent in after the 10 days provided for in the regulations, stated the secretary of thd committee (Mr E. D. Thompson) yesterday. The necessity for appealing within 10 days of being called up was very plainly stated on the callingup notices, said Mr Thompson, and it was surprising that men did not read more carefully a document of such importance. Many late appeals had been considered by the committee in the past, but they had had instructions that this latitude was not to continue. In future, therefore, appeals coming in after the 10 days provided would not be considered, except in the most exceptional circumstances. 70,000 Hussifs Wanted Provincial patriotic councils are shortly to be asked to assist in making 70,000 Army hussifs (small sewing kits), in addition to the present commitments, from material supplied to the National Patriotic Fund Board by the Army Department. It has been suggested that there are probably many households able to assist in this effort, if the position were made known, by providing certain kinds of buttons and other items they may be able to spare for the contents of the hussifs. Such items as safety pins and “bachelor buttons” would be welcomed, and white shirt and pyjama buttons would be welcomed by patriotic committees. In addition to the Army, there are requirements of the Navy and the Air Force to be met.—P.A. Shortage of Bakers

The Auckland Master Bakers’ Association has decided to apply for the listing of the baking trade as an essential industry. This decision has been made, according to a statement issued by the association, in order to preserve for the industry the labour at present employed. An increasing shortage of journeymen bakers has been experienced for some time owing to the num. bers of men joining the forces. In many cases appeals for their exemption have not been made by the master baker, but the stage has now been reached where overtime is being worked in many of the bakeries, and any further reduction in the number of employees, it is claimed, will jeopardise production.